5 Ways to See Theater for Really, Really Cheap in NYC

Yep, even “Hamilton”

Perk #567 of living in New York City: Some of the best plays, musicals and operas in the whole entire world are, like, five minutes from your apartment.

There’s just one problem: If you actually want to see any of them, you have to drop some serious cash, right? And if you want to catch a hot show like Hamilton? Forget it.

Well, we’ve got a secret: You can see these shows for free (or basically free) anytime you want. Yep, even Hamilton. Here’s how…

The Broadway cast of “Hamilton”

SIT FRONT ROW AT “HAMILTON” FOR $10

The bad news: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s insanely awesome hip-hop musical is sold out for the next year. The good news: You still have hope, thanks to the “Ham4Ham” ticket lottery. Swing by the theater two-and-a-half hours before the show starts, drop your name in a bucket and cross your fingers. If your name is picked, you’ll get two front-row seats to that day’s performance for $10 each. If your name isn’t drawn, you might still get to see a free mini performance by Miranda and the cast on the sidewalk. Win-win.

SEE A SHOW AT THE PUBLIC THEATER FOR FREE

While technically off-Broadway, this New York institution premieres tons of shows that end up on Broadway. (Remember Hamilton? Yeah, that.) The discount ticket app TodayTix offers a block of free seats to the first preview performance of every Public Theater production--just enter on the app to nab one.

The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. (at Eighth St.); 212-539-8500 or publictheater.org

Vittorio Grigolo and Anita Hartig in “La Boheme”

SPEND A NIGHT AT THE METROPOLITAN OPERA FOR $25

The opera is only for rich, snooty socialites dripping with diamonds, right? Nope. Even if you don’t want to invest in your own private box, you can still snag a great seat to La Bohème, Rigoletto and more operas this season. On the day of the performance, rush tickets are sold on the Met’s official website for $25.

SEE ANY BROADWAY SHOW (SERIOUSLY) FOR FREE

You know what would be the best thing ever? Seeing The Book of Mormon. Tonight. For free. The discount-ticket website BroadwayBox is making your dreams come true with their daily online lottery. The site offers a pair of free tickets to a different Broadway show every day (think Matilda, School of Rock, Misery and, yep, The Book of Mormon)--just fill out a form on the website and share on social media to increase your odds.

Robert Fairchild and Leanne Cope in “An American in Paris”

CATCH “AN AMERICAN IN PARIS” FOR $32

Got the day off and no brunch plans? Then you can totally see a Broadway show tonight for $32. A limited number of tickets for An American in Paris are released every morning when the box office opens at 10 a.m. (or 12 p.m. on Sundays), first come, first served. So you might be waiting in line in the cold for a couple hours, but once you nab your seats and are swept away by the gorgeous, romantic production, it’ll all be worth it.